HARROGATE, Tenn. – Evan Cory (Metairie, La.) racked up a career-high 24 kills as Lincoln Memorial (8-15) held off Limestone (8-7) to win in five sets. The Railsplitters snapped a three-game losing streak and closed out their home schedule with scores of 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 23-25 and 15-10.

Cory hit .455 to account for nearly half of the team's 49 kills. Pedro Carvalho (Sao Paolo, Brazil) and NyJaee Washington (Las Vegas, Nev.) were next with seven apiece. Three Railsplitters notched double digits in digs. Ryan Iskandar (Tempe, Ariz.) racked up a career-high 11, while Jorge Collazo (San Juan, Puerto Rico) also picked up 11 and Cory added 10 more. Iskandar also assisted on 40 of the team's 49 kills. Carvalho and Marcus Molina (Newport Beach, Calif.) each blocked four Limestone attacks.

The Saints were a bit more balanced offensively with three players picking up double digit kills. Anthony Savage led the team with a career-high 14, while Bruno Kretzschmar notched 13 and Dylan Lavner added 10 kills and five total blocks. Nick Wildes picked up a career-best 18 digs, which is tied for the third-most in the program's history. Luca Wanek assisted on 43 of the team's 53 kills.

The two teams combined for 102 kills, 110 digs, 19 total blocks and 13 service aces. Limestone committed 29 attacking and 17 service errors to Lincoln Memorial's 20 and 16. The Railsplitters also out-hit the Saints .215 to .169.

Limestone jumped ahead 5-1 out of the gate in the first set, but the Railsplitters later used a 4-0 run to take the lead 11-9. The Saints tied the set at 13, but Lincoln Memorial picked up the next three points, aided by two Kretzschmar attack errors, to regain the lead for good. Limestone held a 9-8 kills advantage for the set but hit just .069 thanks to seven attack errors.

Cory hit home six of Lincoln Memorial's 14 kills in the second set as the Railsplitters hit .312 as a team. The Railsplitters never trailed in the set, although Limestone tied the score twice at 7-7 and 8-8. The team then scored eight of the next 11 points to pull ahead for good. Savage recorded seven kills in the set, but the Saints again committed seven attack errors.

Savage and Kretzschmar racked up four kills apiece in the third set as the Saints notched 15 total and hit .270 for its best mark of any set. This coincided with Lincoln Memorial's .152 hitting percentage, which was its lowest. Limestone built an 11-7 advantage before the Railsplitters went on a 5-0 run to take the lead. The Saints then went on a 5-0 run of their own to move back ahead for good at 18-14.

Limestone again built an early lead in the fourth set at 9-5 before Lincoln Memorial went on another 5-0 run to take the lead. Nico Triana (Miami, Fla.) finished the run with three consecutive service aces. Following a timeout, the Saints scored eight of the next 10 points to move back in front. Lincoln Memorial came back to take a 23-22 lead, but Limestone scored the final three points to take the set.

The Railsplitters opened the fifth and final set with an 8-3 lead, but Limestone responded with a 6-0 run to jump ahead. Lincoln Memorial then finished the set by taking seven of the final eight points. The Railsplitters held an 8-3 kills advantage, while Limestone hit -.154 with three kills and five errors.

Lincoln Memorial concludes its inaugural season year 8-5 at Mary Mars Gymnasium. The Railsplitters also improved to 5-1 in matches that extended to five sets, with all coming at home. The team plays one final regular season match Tuesday, March 28 at Bryan College.